Time-controlled electric switch.



E. M. TOTTINGHAM. TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIS, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

4 BEEETB-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR [Hr-d M Tolli/lyhanz ATTORNEYS F. M. TOTTINGHAM.

TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1909.

ATTOR/VE VS F. M. TOTTINGHAM.

TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWI'IGHv APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS I. M. TOT'I'INGHAM.

TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR [fwd fiZ Zbl/z'ug/mm ATTORNE V8 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

FRED M. TOTTINGHAM, OF NEW YORK, Y.," ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 ELIE J". MONEUSE, OF SHEEPSHEAD BAY STATION, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

961,558. Specification f Letters Patent Patented June 14, 1910.

l e Application filed May 18, 1909. Serial No. 496,753.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRED M. TOTTINGHAM, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of the cityof New York, (Sheepshead Bay, borough of Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have in-- vented a new and Improved Time Controlled Electric Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to time-controlled electric switches, my more particular purpose being to provide a switch of this general type so constructed and arranged as to perform a mechanical motion, such as the reds ing of a bucket from a hot water bath after a predetermined lapse of time, this period of time being controllable at will independentlyof the length of time the clockwork has already been in action.

My invention further relates to mechanism for enabling a single clock or other time piece to control anynumber of electric switches, the latter being set independently of each other for actuating various mechanisms after predetermined periods of time under control of the operator.

My invention further relates to various improvements in the mechanism employed for time-controlled electric switches as a means of increasing the general efficiency of the same. 2

For the sake of conciseness I show merely one form of apparatus embodying my invention, to wit: a device for enabling the operator to time the raising of buckets adapted to contain eggs in order to cook the various charges of eggs to different degrees. I do not limit myself to this particular form of apparatus, for the reason that various other forms suited for different purposes may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is afragmentary elevation showing a tank for holding hot water and provided with standards carryin at their tops electric switches and provided with egg buckets to be lowered into and raised upwardly from the tank independentl of each other; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitu inal section on'the line 22 Fig. 3 through the casshaft with means for ultimately controllingthe various egg bucket-s after the same have been lowered by the operator and the electric switches adjusted as hereinafter described; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the face of the clock, and also showing one of the contact mechanisms controllable thereby, this contact mechanism being associated with some one of the electric switches and some one of the egg buckets; Fig. 4c is a detail showing a contact brush used in connection with the clock; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 1 through the hot water tank and eg bucket movable relatively to the same, an electricallyoperated mechanism for controlling the release and lifting of the bucket which is here shown in its uppermost or normal position; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to the top portion of Fig. 5, but showing the parts occupying their abnormal position corresponding to that occupied by a bucket when lowered into the hot water tank; Fig. 7 is a section upon the line 77 of Fig. (5, looking in the direction of the arrow and showin one of the mercury switches I employ 'or opening and closing certain circuits used in my device; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section upon the line 88 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing one of the circuits as closed by the mercury; and Fig. 9 is a diagram of the wiring.

A hot water tank 10 (see Fig. 5) is provided witha perforated floor 11 below which are heating pipes 12 for the purpose of maintaining the temperature of water contained in the hot water tank. A number of colunms 13 extend upwardly from the hot water tank. As the several columns 13 together with parts associated with them, are exactly alike, I will describe only one. Mounted upon each column 13 is a conduit 14 for conveniently holding the various wires used in connection with the device. At the top of the column 13 is a wheel 15 engaged by a chain belt 16 and connected with this chain belt is a smaller chain belt '17 from which depends a weight 18.

Mounted upon each column 13 is a housing 19 containingisupporting bars 20, and

engaging the latter is a yoke 21. Guide l'form, and are disposed adjacent to the path pins 22 extending through slots 23 in the supporting bars 20 engage the yoke 21. By raising or lowering the yoke and tightening the screws 22, the yoke may be adjusted vertically within proper limits. A solenoid 24: is connected rigidly with the yoke 21, which carries a plate 25 of insulating material, and carried by the latter are bearings 26, 27. Disposed intermediate these bearings are two leaves 28, 29, and mounted in the latter respectively are glass tubes 30, 31, each being sealed; These tubes are supported upon pintles 32, 33 whichare integral with the sleeves 28, 29. These sleeves are connected together by a neck 29 integral therewith. Contact springs 34, 35, 36 are mounted re spectively upon metallic plates 37, 38, 39. The contact springs 842, 36 engage sleeves 26 27 a which are mounted upon and insulated from the pintles 32, 33, as will be un-- derstood from Fig. 7

Connected with the plates 37, 38, 39 are wires 40, ll, 12. A wire is sealed into the tube 31 and is joined to a similar wire 44 sealed into the tube 30. Connected with these wires is another wire 45 which leads to the stem 29-. A wire 16 is sealed into the tube 31 and is connected with the contact sleeve 27*. Another wire &7 is sealed into the tube 30' and engages the contact sleeve 26. At 48, 49 are two volumes of free mercury contained in the tubes 30, 31 for the purpose of making metallic contact between the ends of the wires entering the tubes.

Connected with the sleeves 28, 29 is an arm 50 of the form indicated in 8. This arm engages a roller 51, and by aid thereof supports a head 52. This head is connected with an iron core 53 which extends loosely through the solenoid 2a and is adapted to be raised thereby when said solenoid is energized. Connected with the chain belt 16 is a bail 55 which supports a bucket 56. A wire 54 is connected with the solenoid 241 and leads to a contact arm 60, as hereinafter described. Rollers 57 are mounted upon the under side of the yoke 21 and are engaged by the core 53. Disposed below the rollers 5'? is a spring pad 58 which presses against the chain belts 16, 1'? for the purpose of holding the same in proper engagement with the wheel 15.

At 59 is an electric switch provided with an arm '60 and with contact points 61, 62, 63, ca, 65, 66, as indicated particularly in Figs. 1, 6 and 9. @onnected with these contact points are wires 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 leading respectively to binding posts 73, 7 1, 75, 76, W, 78. Tn metallic communication with these binding posts are wires 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 leading to contact points 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90. These contacts last mentioned are disposed in,a row having ,a general arcuate of travel of an arm 91. This arm is connected with a wire 92 which leads to another wire 93, the latter being connected with a clutch magnet 94. \Vires 95, 95 connect this clutch magnet with a binding post 96. A wire 97 connects the latter with a battery 98, and from this battery a wire 99 leads to a binding post 100. Connected with the clutch magnet 94 is a wire 101 which is connected with a wire 101 leading to a binding post 102. The wire 4-2 is also connected with this binding post as will be understood from Fig. 9.

Mounted within a casing 103 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is a clock 104 which is wound by aid of a thumb piece 105. The clock 101 is provided with an hour hand 1041 and also with a minute arbor 10 t Secured upon the lat ter is a stud 106 as will be understood from Fig. 2. A sleeve 107 of insulating material is connected rigidly with this stud and also with a shaft 108. This shaft extends a considerable distance from the clock and is supported upon one or more bearings 109 car ried by cross bars 110, as will be understood from Fig. 2.

sleeve 111 is connected with the shaft 108 by aid of a universal joint 11.2. This sleeve 111 practically constitutes a continum tion of the shaft and is ustable by aid of a thumb screw 11%. ii. spring brush 113 engages the spring 111 and forms part of an electric circuit hereinafter described. Zr number of posts 115, 116 are mounted within the casing 103, these posts being precisely alike and being each provided with a bar 117 having at its lower end a horizontal poi tion 118 and at its top an adjusting screw 119. Screws 120 extend through slots 121 in the bars 111 and engage the posts. By a of the screws 119, 120 the height of the b 11? may be adjusted at will. ltl ounted :cdly upon the shaft 108 are a number oi mulch members 122, 122*, and mounted loosely upon said shaft 108 are clutch member 123, 123% Each of these las mentioned clutch members is provided with an arm 9' pro'- jecting radially outward from its center and carrying a spring brush 12%. Each clutch magnet is provided with a movable armature 1 5, the latter carrying a clutch tori: 126 which engages the corresponding clutch member 123 or 123 for the purpose of moving it in the general direction of the axis of the shaft 108. Connected with each armature 125 is a retracting spring 127, the eilcct of which is to normally maintain the corresponding clutch in its open or so called idle position.

, The operation of my device is hs follows: 1 will first suppose that the machine is idle and that each movable part occupies its normal position. The buckets 56 are ther f. re at their uppermost limits and the weights 18 (see at their lowermost limits. The circuits are now all open and consequentlythe battery is idle. Suppose, now, that the operator desires to start the machine into action. He causes the water in the tank 10 to be heated by aid of the heating coil 12. Suppose, further, that he wishes to cook-a number of eggs in one of the'buckets 56 and-for a period of three minutes. He moves one of the arms 60 by hand (see right hand portion of Fig. 1)

until it rests upon the proper contact point, say 64, the various contact points 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 being associated with the interval of time desired for cooking the eggs. Having placed the charge of eggs in the bucket I 56, corresponding to the particular switch the positions indicated in Fig. 5.

not retrograde. chain belt 16 is securely held in position as arm 60 which he has just adjusted, the operator pulls the bucket downward until it enters the hot water. Before pulling the bucket down the movable members occupy After the bucket is drawn down, however, these parts appear as indicated in Fig. 6. In drawing the bucket downward the chain belt 16 travels over the pulley 15, turning the latter and lifting the smaller chain belt 17 and the weight 18. The bucket 56 being lowered the core'53, by its own gravity, drops downward and lodges against one end of the chain belt 16, as will be understood from Fig. 6. This is readily accomplished for the reason that the chain belt 16 is considerably larger than the chain belt 17, so thatwhen the core 53 dro s down into en agement with the sma ler chain belt 17 t e chain belt 16 can The uppermost end of the indicated in Fig. 6 by the core 53 which thus serves the purpose of a pawl. The lowering of the core 53 as just described causes the head 52 to descend slightly and carry with it the arm 50. This tilts the tubes 30, 31, as indicated in Fig. 6, and causes the two volumes of mercury 48, 49 to flow to the right according to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, thereby making metallic connection between the wires entering the tubes 30, 31, as will be understood from Fig. 7. The setting of the arm 60 (see Fig. 1) upon the ,contact point 64, as above described, completes a circuit as follows: battery 98, wire 99,:binding post 100, wire 41, plate 38, spring 35 (see Fig. 7), neck 29, wires 45, 43, to tube 31, mercury 49 inthis tube, wire 46, sleeve 27", spring 36, plate 39, wire 42, binding post 102, wires 161*, 101, clutch magnet 94,. wires 93, 95, 95, binding post 96, and wire 97, back to battery 98. This energizes the particular clutch magnet 94 which is associated with the particular arm 60 (see right of Fig. 1) which has been set by the operator. One of the clutch magnets 94, being thus energized, at

trol of the clock for the reason that the shaft 1 108 has a rotation corresponding to that of the minute hand of' the clock. The arm 91 therefore begins to travel like a minute hand and in doing this the contact spring 124 successively engages the various contact points 85, 86, 87, 88. The travel of the arm 91 is thus necessarily under the direct control of the clock, andthe intervals whereby the contact members last mentioned are spaced apart is associated with distances traveled by the minute hand, and conse uently correspond to time periods. The c utch solenoid 94 being thus denergized, the clutch releases so that the arm 91 drops, by its own gravity, back to its normal position. Suppose, however, that the operator desires to cook eggs for a period of two minutes only. He places-the eggs in some one of the buckets 56, draws down the bucket in question and moves the arm 60, associated with the par.- ticular bucket '56 he has chosen to the contact point 63, so that the arm 91' rests upon the contact point 87. The automatic operations above described now take place when the clock has caused the proper circuit to be completed, and the completion of this circuit takes place whenever the arm 91 travels sufficiently to enable the spring 124 to engage the contact point 86.

Since the shaft 108 may be of considerable length, as above stated, and may be provided with any number of clutches, and

since aside from the general parts of the apparatus the various groups of mechanism corresponding to the different buckets 56 may be duplicated to any desired extent, the same clock can be used in any number of buckets. It will also be noted that no matter how long the clock has been running, and no matter what may be the time of day indicated by the clock or otherwise, the op-. erator can almost instantly place the apparatus in such condition that upon the expiration of any predetermined time limit consistent with the proportions of the machine, one or any other number of the buck: ets will be raised automatically. It will be further noted that the buckets need not be set all at the same time, and that their action is entirely independent of each other. Also that the restoration of any bucket to its normal position and the restoration of any parts associated with a bucketto their respective normal conditions, has no efiect on any other bucket or buckets.

It is obvious that the lifting of a bucket from a hot water tank is only oneof the myriads of purposes to which my invention may be applied. I therefore describe the invention in detail with res ect to its distinguishingstructural ant unctional charac ,teristics in connection with what I believe to be a preferred construction as illustrated in the drawings, and the applicability of the specific distinctive features to other purposes or to other constructions I keep in view as far as possible.

In my claims I endeavor to point out the for securin said arm rigidly in relation to said revolu le member for the purpose of enabling said revoluble member to turn said arm, contact mechanism controllable by movements of said arm means including an electric circuit connected with said-contact mechanism and controllable thereby for perv forming a predetermined mechanical m0- tion, and electric mechanism connected with said contact mechanism and adjustable at will for the purpose of energizing said cir cuit after a predetermined length of time.

2; A. time-controlled electric switch, comprising a time piece provided with a revoluble member, an arm associated with said 'revoluble member and normally loose relativelyto the same,meanscontrollable atwill for securing said arm rigidly in relation to said revolubie member for the purpose of enabling said revolnble member to turn said arm, contact mechanism controllable by movements of said arm, an electrically-operated switch included in said circuit and actuated by the same for the purpose of breaking circuit, mechanism coacting with said electrically operated switch for eX- ecuting a predetermined mechanical motion.

3. The combination of a normally open circuit, a time-controlled switch for closing said circuit after a predetermined interval of time, an electrically-operated switch connected with said circuit zind adapted to be actuated thereby, said electrically-operated switch having contact mechanism, said contact mechanism being included in said electric circuit for the purpose of opening said electric circuit when said electrically-operated switch is operated, and mechanism for executing a predetermined mechanical motion, said last-mentioned mechanism being provided with means for preventing said electrically-operated switch from closing when saidcircuit is opened by said contact mechanism.

.4. The combination of a normally open electric circuit, a time-controlled switch for closing said electric circuit after a redetel-mined interval of time, an electricallyoperated switch connected with said circuit and adapted to be actuated thereby, said electrically operated switch including a solenoid, and a movable core and also having contact mechanism included in said cir cuit for the purpose of opening the latter when said electrically-operated switch is actuated, a sprocket chain movable relatively to vsaid core and disposed adjacent thereto for the purpose of supporting said core and thereby maintaining said contact mechanism open, a weight connected with said sprocket chain for the purpose of actuating the lat ter, and a receptacle connected with said sprocket chain for the purpose of holding eggs or the like, and means for applying heat to said receptacle and its contents when said receptacle occupies a predetermined position,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED M. TOTTINGHAM..

Witnesses:

VVAL'roN HARm'soN, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs. 

